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Every summer there is extreme heat in parts of Australia but here is another record broken and another example of climate change in the world.

It should be remembered that bush fires have always occurred naturally in Australia and the bushlands regenerate quickly. The problem is that immigrants to Australia over the last 200 or so years have built houses and villages in these bushlands. What can the occupants reasonably expect ?

In 2009, Australia suffered a series of firestorms, resulting in over 200 deaths and the collapse of more than 700 homes destroyed by the most prolific bushfires ever documented on the Australian continent.

This year's firestorms are much worse, with daytime ambient temperatures setting new records.

"The scale has just been increased today and I would anticipate it is because the forecast coming from the bureau's model is showing temperatures in excess of 50 degrees," David Jones, head of the bureau's climate monitoring and prediction unit, said. [emphasis mine]